Referee Error Costs Chiefs the Game: Mahomes fumes as Reid left helpless in controversial loss to Bills.
The Week 9 showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills ended 28–21, but the score only tells half the story — because one blatant referee mistake changed everything.
Midway through the third quarter, Patrick Mahomes was flagged for intentional grounding after throwing the ball away under pressure. But replays revealed that Bills defensive end Michael Hoecht tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage — meaning by rule, it should not have been a penalty. Still, the officials missed it, and the play couldn’t be reviewed.
Head coach Andy Reid tried to challenge the call but was told it was not reviewable. Moments later, the Bills capitalized on the mistake, scoring a touchdown that pushed their lead to two scores — and shifted the entire momentum of the game.
Veteran CBS analyst and former referee Gene Steratore called it “the most unique play I’ve seen in nearly 30 years” and urged the NFL to make such calls reviewable in the future, arguing that one missed decision should never determine the outcome of a game.
Now, the Chiefs and their fans are left questioning the system — and wondering how one error from the officials could take away what they rightfully earned on the field.
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